Alabama's Grant wants to see increased productivity

BIRMINGHAM | Anthony Grant, like most coaches, has a stubborn streak — but the University of Alabama head men's basketball coach says it doesn't extend to keeping his team stuck in a rut.

By Cecil HurtSports Editor | The Tuscaloosa News

BIRMINGHAM | Anthony Grant, like most coaches, has a stubborn streak — but the University of Alabama head men's basketball coach says it doesn't extend to keeping his team stuck in a rut.
“I think we all want to keep improving in our profession,” Grant said Thursday at SEC Basketball Media Days. “Have you reached the highest level you want to be as a journalist, and now you are ready to stop? Probably not. I know I haven't. Hopefully I am a better husband than I was a year ago, and a better father and a better coach. There are areas I see where I want to improve on offense, on defense. As a program, that is our approach every day.”
The Crimson Tide was on the cusp of making the NCAA Tournament last season and fell short, so even incremental improvement could make a huge difference in perception. That includes every area of the program — including scheduling.
“Last year, if you take December out of our schedule, we are in pretty good shape, 18-4 I think,” Grant said. “But we were 1-5 in December and we got in a hole that our conference schedule didn't allow us to dig out of.”
This year, Alabama could potentially face Duke, Arizona, Oklahoma, Wichita State and UCLA before Jan. 1.
“It is potentially a very challenging schedule,” Grant said. “We just have to find a way to win some.”
The biggest need, according to most Alabama observers, is increased offensive productivity.
“I think last year, some of the limitations we had, some of it was the product of (being) a young team, some of it was the (personnel) limitations you have,” Grant said. “To some extent, it was just a matter of staying healthy, especially in December when we had injuries (sustained by) Carl (Engstrom) and Andrew Steele. Knock on wood, that won't be the case this year.”
There was one piece of news on the injury front on Thursday as Grant said that guard Levi Randolph was still out with a bone bruise in his knee, but did not seem likely to require surgery.
“It's just a matter of the swelling going down, we hope,” Grant said. “It is possible that he won't miss a significant amount of time.”
The rest of the squad, he said, is in good condition, including senior All-SEC point guard Trevor Releford, who dropped 10 pounds in the offseason, and forward Nick Jacobs, who shed 25 pounds.
“All of our guys benefitted from our strength and conditioning program,” Grant said.
While it is too early to guess at a starting lineup, a likely rotation with Randolph out would be Releford at point guard, sophomore Retin Obasohan at the two guard, junior Rodney Cooper at the wing, Jacobs at power forward and Engstrom at center with the three UA newcomers – Algie Key, Jimmie Taylor and Shannon Hale – in reserve.